UK carrier Three has today sent out a press release detailing the launch of the HTC 8X Windows Phone, which is stated to be available from today on the Three website as well as in-store. So just how much will we be expecting to pay for the flagship Windows Phone? The network has also launched the handset in Ireland.

Consumers will be able to pick up the HTC 8X for £29 a month (with an upfront fee of just £30) on the Ultimate Internet 500 plan. Pay As You Go is also supported with a price tag of £349.99, plus a top-up. Should you take the out-of-contract route, All in One 15 costs £15 and provides 30-day access to all-you-can-eat data along with 300 any-network minutes and 3,000 texts. Or All in One 25 costs £25 and offers 500 minutes, 3,000 texts and all-you-can-eat data for a 30-day period.

If the pricing wasn't exciting enough, Three is also offering a special gift with each HTC 8X purchase. Customers who purchase the Windows Phone (24-month contracts eligible when taken out between 09.11.12 – 21.12.12) will also receive a copy of the Windows 8 Pro upgrade completely free. Pretty neat, eh?

I got mines a few hours ago upgrading from the Samsung Omnia 7. Here is the big differences from the Omnia 7 which is basically the best first gen Windows 7 phone in the UK.

- The screen is a lot better, very sharp and bright. It's also quite soft where the Omnia 7 just felt like hard glass.

- Performance boost, there is a noticeable boost in speed, just feels even more fluid.

- Feels nicer in the hand, the Omnia 7 had good build quality with it's hard durable metallic feel. The 8X feels very smooth and thin but still feels very durable like the Omnia which was cold and hard and pointy.

My only complaint is the location of the power button, the Omnia 7 had all of it's buttons at the sides. Having a button on the top right means it's more comfortable to hold it in you're right hand as the power button is hard to reach one handed with your left hand.

Obviously there is the operating system upgrade, I've spent three hours fiddling around with several screen configurations which was fun. I can't compare it to the other WP8 devices but if you have any of the first generation windows phones, this is a massive upgrade in every way.

I've had several phones where the Audio is very disappointing by the volume being low, I was scared this phone would be the same. The 'beats enhancement' does push the audio beyond any iPod I've used. So if you want a phone for listening to this music, this phone is good enough for anyone.